Protecting and Conserving Abenaki Sites at Dairy Hill and in the White River Valley
As part of Royalton's Old Home Days celebration, the Royalton Historical Society, the Vermont Humanities Council, and the Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions will present a program on Saturday, August 5th at 2 PM in the Royalton Academy Building (4266 VT Route 14) in Royalton village.
Since ancient times, the Abenaki People have lived in the Wôbitekw Wolhanak (White River Valley) of Vermont. Though Abenaki history has been largely hidden in local Vermont histories, this long and continuing extended family and community history is finally coming to light.
At Dairy Hill in Royalton, Vermont there are Abenaki sites of great antiquity which are being protected and conserved by a coalition of the Abenaki, conservation organizations, the Royalton Historical Society, and other interested partners. One of these is the often misunderstood so called "Calendar One" site off Pepperill Road near McIntosh Pond on Dairy Hill.
Emily Boles, Abenaki basket maker and ecologist, and John Moody of Winter Center will provide an overview of local and regional Abenaki history, a summary of the efforts to protect and conserve Abenaki sites in Royalton and the wider region, an appreciation of the continuous Abenaki life in the area which will include an overview of the many Abenaki and Indigenous Peoples' gifts to our shared rural life which is still the heart of the annual round of food gathering and growing, and living, in the Upper Valley.
See also the Abenaki Land Acknowledgement and Summary of Abenaki History in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire for further information:
https://vitalcommunities.org/this-abenaki-homeland/